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M. B. LLOYD. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR Moms THE EDGES or REED FABRIC AND THE UKE.

APPUCATWN FILED MAY 28, 19H. 1,336,571.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

UNITED smtras PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL B. LLOYD, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR BINDING THE EDGES 0F REED FABRIC AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed May as, 1Bl7. Serial No. 171,432.

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, lVLuisiiALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Menominee, Michigan, have invented a certain new, useful and Improved Method of and Means for Binding the Edges of Reed Fabric and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The fabric with which my invention is particularly concerned is composed of a plurality of spaced members called stakes which may be of reed or wire upon. which long strands called fillers are woven over some of the stakes and under others.

The fabric to which this invention relates is for use in the construction. of baby carriages and furniture.

The general object of my invention is to provide, a method whereby the free ends of such fabric can be easily and qui kly secured against undesired separation to the end that the fabric shall permanently re-- tain its shape and character.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a method of finishing or bindin the free ends of reed fabric which shall be of pleasing appearance, of low cost. which will admit of the fabric being conveniently placed upon and secured to desired frames or articles; which shall not injure the fabric, which shall impart added stability to the fabric, and which shall enable the use of separate pieces of fabric where under prior methods it has been necessary to weave the fabric upon and secure it directly to the frame or article.

My invention consists generally in the step, acts and means whereby the above named objects, together with othersnvhich will appear hereinafter are attainable and my invention will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative thereof.

In sald drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tubular woven reed fabric.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fabric shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the fabric of Figs. 1 and 2 after Fig. an enlarged, edge view of the fabric illustrating its character.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in pers ective, a portion pf strip metal such as may use for binding purposes. 7

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the metal of been severed to form a strip.

Fig. 5 partially formed to form an edge binder.

Fig. 7 illustrates a further step in the operation the edge of the fabric being inserted in the partially formed binder.

Fig. 8 is a View illustrating the finished product; and

Fig. 9 is a view of the fabric of Fig. 3 withthe edge binders thereon.

In the drawings 1 illustrates a tubular reed fabric composed of filler strands 2 and spaced stakes 3. Reed fabric is made in many ways but the most common type is that in which the filler strands pass over and under alternate stakes as depicted in the drawings. I wish it to be understood, however, that my invention is not concerned with the character of the weave which may be varied as desired.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a tubular fabric such as I find it convenient to weave and which may be utilized for many purboses. The tubular fabric is severed as alo g the line (Fig. 2) thus producing a strip of fabric as shown in Fig. This 0 eration results in leaving a large number 0 free or loose ends 4: of the tiller strands. In this condition the filler strands are easily separated from the stakes and the fabric must be carefully handled or it is likely to separate. If the fabric be in this condition placed upon a frame or other article as a. covering all or a large number of the separate filler strand ends must be secured to the frame or article. This operation is a slow and laborious one and results in an unsightly product. F urthermore when the fabric 1s placed in some places upon certain articles it is difficult to tack or fasten the various filler strands in place because of the limited amount of room. Again it may be desirable to manufacture the fabrics in one place and ship them to remote places for assembly upon or securance to frames or articles.

I have devised a simple and inexpensive method and means whereby the fabric edge can be held against undesired separation and which will simplify the manufacture of reed articles either contiguous the point of manufacture ofthe reed fabric or at points remote therefrom. To this end I provide a strip of material 10, see Fig. 5 which is fairly rigid but which can be shaped or formed to provide a channel in which the loose or free ends of the filler. strands can be placed. I have so far found relatively light sheet metal to be the best material for this purpose, although a very thin sheet of metal with a covering of paper or other fiber may be also used. One of the principal characteristics desired is that the material be readily formed yet of such rigidity as to bind the fabric into a fairly permanent unit. I first form the sheet metal 10 back upon itself thus forming the portion 12. In this manner I rovide a groove or channel 13 of a size sufficient to accon'nnodate the filler strands of the fabric as illustrated in F i 7. After the free or loose end of the ller strands are placed in position I fold the metal back upon itself which firmly and securely binds and presses the filler strand ends between the metallic folds. Thus the fabric becomes a unit practically as nonseparable as it was when in tubular form. The fabric with the binder edges is depicted in Fi 9 wherein 15 are the metallic binders. he fabric in this condition can be freely and roughly handled without danger of causing its separation. Furthermore it can be readily fastened to or upon an antic-1e or frame by driving a relatively few fustcrr ing devices through the metallic edge or binder.

Reed, both natural and the so called fiber reed, will break if too abruptly bent or kinked especially if in relation to a relatively sharp firm metallic edge. If the filler strand ends were broken or'severed when fastening the binder thereto they would be likely to pull out if subjected to a strain as they might and would be in certain articles, as for example a chair seat. I obviate practically all danger of breaking or severing the fabric by the novel way in which 1 form the binder. To this end note that the end portion 12, around which the fabric filler strands are bent during the binding opt'mtion, is rounded as at 20, thus presenting a smooth surface around which the filler strands are drawn. In fact as I prefer to form the metallic binder there are no sharp edges to cut or injure the fabric and the form and then severed, or whether it be produced in other way if there be loose or free ends to be secured. It should also be understood that a binder of the class described may be used in like manner if desired to bind the projecting stake ends. This is such an obvious fact that it is not thought necessary to illustrate or describe same in detail. In fact the operation will be practically identical except that the stake ends are placed in the channel 13, instead of the filler strands.

I claim:

1. A binder for reed fabric and the like, compr sing a metallic strip in which a lon gitudinal portion is folded back in spaced relation to the remainder of the strip thereby forming a groove for the reception of fabric, and in which the edge portion of that part of the strip which is folded back is reversely folded to form a rounded edge.

2. As a new article of manufacture a woven fabric of reed-like character having an edge portion bounded by a metallic stri a portion of which is folded longitudinally so as to inclose the fabric edge portion, said folded strip portion being reversely folded along its edge to form a rounded edge portion, and the inclosed fabric and. folded strip portion being folded back upon the fabric.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 9th day of May, 1917, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. B. LLOYD.

Witnesses:

H. M. CAUOHEY, CECIL S. BELONGY. 

